Upstream Together

Children play among the Koinobori (Japanese carp streamers) display at the South Sound Sustainability Expo.

This spring, Tacoma came together to create something beautiful.

Upstream Together is a City of Tacoma Artist in Residence project led by @terukonimura_art, celebrating sustainability, resilience, and collective creativity. Through workshops with students from SAMI, community members, volunteers, and partners, hundreds of upcycled Koinobori (carp streamers) and community dragons came to life.

Each Koinobori represents perseverance, transformation, and the hopes we carry for the future—reflections of how we swim upstream together to build a stronger, more connected Tacoma.

These vibrant creations are now flying at the South Sound Sustainability Expo at Tollefson Plaza, alongside community-led activities, vendors, and organizations working toward a greener future.

Thank you to the many students, volunteers, community makers, and partners who helped make this project possible